Pundits weigh in on Sisi presidency opposition

May. 31, 2014 19:30

Abdel Fatah al-Sisi - YOUM7 (Archive)

By THE CAIRO POST

CAIRO: Probable president-elect Abdel Fatah al-Sisi stated during his campaign that Egypt’s main challenges were its security issues, and now a number of experts are weighing in what this means for the future of political opposition in the country.

Former editor-in-chief of Al-Gomhorreya newspaper Mohamed Ali Ibrahim said that the new president needs not only to build a ruling front but also a strong opposition, adding that “it is the only way” to protect his rule from those who refuse the role performed by the former military ruler during June 30, in an opinion article published in Middle East Online .

He added that Sisi should perform a “major role” to build serious opposition from the non-Islamist parties to allow them to compete for gaining a majority in the parliament, and that the president should “adopt a neutral approach to pave the way for containing any conflict between the ruling authority and the opposition.”

He said such an approach would “turn the president into a symbol of Egyptian patriotism.”

Security expert Tallat Moussa told Youm7 Friday that the Muslim Brotherhood would work to destabilize the country during the coming period to promote the failure of the new president to restore the security before the world.

On the other hand, many Egyptians refused the anti-protest law issued by President Adly Mansour in November. They believe that the law aims to return the suppressive approach adopted by Mubarak’s regime. A number of activists were sentenced to three-year imprisonment upon this law, including Ahmed Doma and Ahmed Maher.

Chair person of Popular Coalition Party Abdel Ghaffar Shokr said that “President Sisi should take a decision to pardon the people arrested based on this law.” He added that it would be a good initiative to ease the current tensions witnessed in the Egyptian community.

He added that the new regime should depend on the young people to perform a major role in the Egyptian community during the coming period.

Sisi said during a televised interview before the elections that the anti-protest law comes to organize protests, not to prevent the demonstrations. He ruled out that he would cancel the law when he takes power.